This is another very basic structural question, related to one I asked last
week, and again is not necessarily germane only to Python.
Let's say you have a sequence of two calculations or manipulations you need to
do, each one done as a function called by an overall calculate_something()
function. The "answer" to each function is then used in the next function. I
can think of two ways to make that answer available for use in the next
function: 1) pass it in, or 2) declare it as self.answer and then it is
available to the whole class instance.
What are the dis/advantages to these two different ways? Here are examples,
with only the overall calculate_something() function shown:
1.Pass the variable to the second function.
def calculate_something(self):
answer = self.do_first_calculation() #1st function returns answer
self.do_second_calculation(answer) #2nd is passed answer and uses it.
2. Create the variable in the class instance scope and use that in the second
function.
def calculate_something(self):
self.do_first_calculation() #1st function creates
self.answer
self.do_second_calculation() #2nd uses self.answer
Both of these approaches can work, but I would like to better understand when
it is best to do one or the other. Obviously if I know I will need to make
self.answer available for use by other functions, I would want to choose (2).
But what other considerations should I, well, consider?
Thanks,
Che
_________________________________________________________________
NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized for YOUR phone. Click here.
http://windowslive.com/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_MB_new_hotmail_072009_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
